Chinese underwater archaeologists hope to make their ongoing efforts to salvage the sunken ship Nan'ao-1 off the coast of Guangdong province an exemplar for other underwater projects.
A total of 20 archaeologists have been working on the centuries-old shipwreck since early April, making it the biggest in-situ underwater archaeological excavation in China since the establishment of its first underwater archaeological team in 1987.
They hope to recover the ship's full load of over 10,000 pieces of antique porcelain by the end of July before the monsoon season arrives.
Over the past weeks, the excavation team has demonstrated great teamwork, with a clear division of work, according to Cui Yong, executive leader of the recovery team.
Each night, the team meets to discuss plans for the next day's operations, based on reports of weather conditions and tidal movements.
So far the team has recovered more than 2,000 artifacts from the sunken vessel.
The progress has been slower than expected thanks to many days when strong winds have led to waves rising 1.5 meters, says Cui.
"Both water temperature and weather have been less cooperative than expected," Cui says. "But this is exactly what defines underwater archaeological excavation - its vulnerability to weather conditions, to tidal movements and to the dynamic environment of the sea bed."
He is confident of greater progress in the coming month with more agreeable weather.
He believes this excavation effort, like that on the Nanhai-1, will serve as valuable experience for future excavations of more ancient shipwrecks in the South China Sea, whose number is estimated at around 2,000.
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